Donald Trump’s nominee for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth. (Terry Wyatt/Getty Images)
President-elect Donald Trump has announced his cabinet selections over the past two months, although the process formally begins today with the first set of Senate hearings for his nominees to lead the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, and Interior.
U.S. Sens. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) are on opposite sides of the aisle, but aren’t entirely falling in line or opposing Trump’s selections.
Fetterman, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, told the Capital-Star at the Pennsylvania Farm Show on Jan. 4 that he “absolutely expects” to vote for Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins.
“I’ve met with her,” Fetterman said. “Obviously she’s going to have some different views on some things, but overall, she has a strong background, and I really learned a lot more about her.”
Fetterman added that he “can’t imagine” that there would be “explosive hearings” on Rollins’ confirmation and said he hopes to work with her on crafting the next farm bill.
“So I look forward to working with her, and we’ve expressed that we’re going to find plenty [of] things to work together on that and deliver for Pennsylvania and the farmers,” Fetterman said.
Fetterman also serves on other committees that will hear from Trump’s nominees: Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and Special Committee on Aging.
McCormick, who was sworn in earlier this month after defeating longtime incumbent U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), serves on the following committees: Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, Energy and Natural Resources, Foreign Relations, Special Committee on Aging, and Joint Economic Committee.
Speaking to reporters at the Pennsylvania Farm Show on Saturday, which was his first public appearance in the state since becoming senator, McCormick said he’s already met with several of Trump’s cabinet nominees, but is focused on the selections that will come in front of his committees.
“I’m on the Energy Committee, so the energy secretary, the interior secretary. I’m on the Banking Committee, so those economic people will come through me, and I’m on the Foreign Relations Committee,” McCormick said, adding he also planned to meet with U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Trump’s selection for secretary of state.
“My impressions are that President Trump promised disruption, and he’s nominating a number of people that will be disruptive in the best sense of the word,” McCormick told the Capital-Star. “We want change. That’s what the American people told us. That’s what Pennsylvania told us.”
“So, I want to help him in any way I can to make sure his nominees and he gets the team he needs,” he added. “But, I’m also a senator with responsibility to advise and consent, so I take that seriously. I’m going to meet with each person. I’m going to do my responsible due diligence, but I’m hopeful that we’re going to be able to put in place and optimistic we’ll be able to put in place a great team for the president.”
When asked by the Capital-Star if he had any reservations about any of Trump’s selections, he reiterated that he’s “meeting with each one as I go,” and that he’s going to “form my judgments as I have the opportunity to meet with them.”
Fetterman, who recently became the first Democrat to meet with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, has met with several of Trump’s nominees, while many of the other Democrats have not.
“I don’t know why it would be controversial to meet with the nominees, some I can vote for, like the incoming secretary of agriculture, or Marco Rubio or Representative Stefanik,” Fetterman told reporters on Jan. 4. “And there’s others, perhaps, that I will not, but whoever I vote, it’s going to be an informed choice. And I see that as doing my job.”
“I don’t see that as controversial,” Fetterman added. “I don’t judge people who they choose to meet. But I hope no one would do the same.”
Republicans hold a multiple seat majority in the U.S. Senate, so it would likely take all of the Democrats and multiple Republicans to vote in opposition for some of his nominees to not be confirmed.